182,000 Hampton Bay Ceiling Fans Recalled For 'Detaching' Blades: Is Yours Affected?

King of Fans is recalling 182,000 of its Hampton Bay ceiling fans because of the injury risks posed by the blades detaching while in use. According to the recall notice posted on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website, the company has so far received 47 reports of the blade detaching from the unit, two of which hit a customer and four others caused "property damage."

As the King of Fans news release explained, this issue was caused by an "isolated manufacturing defect" with the fans' assembly.

The product involved in the recall is the "Hampton Bay 54-inch Mara Indoor/Outdoor" ceiling fans, which come in matte white, matte black, black and polished nickel with the following UPC numbers marked in a silver label at the top of the fan assembly:

• Matte White -- 082392519186
• Matte Black -- 082392519193
• Black -- 082392599195
• Polished Nickel -- 082392599188

The affected units were sold exclusively at Home Depot from April to October 2020, the CPSC noted, with 8,800 units being sold in Canada, apart from the 182,000 sold nationwide.

Getting A Replacement Unit

Customers using the affected products are being advised to stop using them immediately and to check their units for problems with the fans' blades, the CPSC said.

The King of Fans' news release provides a step-by-step guide on how to check whether a unit is affected by the recall. This involves first checking the blade for movement and uneven gaps, followed by removing the light and checking the security of the blade clips.

Each blade clip should be inspected, and those who find problems should stop using the unit and contact the company.

The company also provided an instructional video on how to properly inspect the fans.

It's worth noting that people should turn off the electricity at the main fuse box before conducting the inspection to avoid the risk of electrical shock. And those who are not comfortable doing it on their own should reach out to a licensed electrician.

Those who find that their ceiling fans are affected by the recall should call King of Fans to get a free replacement. Anyone with questions about the instructions, or about getting a free replacement, can contact the company at 1-866-443-1291 or via email at MaraRecall@kingoffans.com.

"Due to the nature of the potential issue, we require confirmation that your current fan is rendered inoperable," King of Fans said.

The company also has another video that shows how to get a replacement.

"On behalf of King of Fans and The Home Depot, we apologize for any inconvenience this issue may have caused you," King of Fans said. "We take pride in the quality of our products, and the safety of our customers is our priority."